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A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

nytimes.com

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Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#21

Post by ahknight »

pulkitpulkit wrote: post #5

Interesting that the article goes down the route of providing more stimulus to help treat ADHD.. wonder if there's also a case for reducing our need for more stimuli (e.g. with mindfulness or meditation) or whether that's just too against the grain of how we are moving as a society (in to a more digital, multi-tasked world)

That's a whole different topic, even though to an outsider they may seem related by the stimuli concept. ADHD is an impulse control disorder. Increasing the stimulus levels of positive things around such a person induces a natural focus to those things. Reducing stimuli would alternately induce sleep or painful boredom that will express itself in highly random and chaotic ways after a short time.

Sometimes I think it would be a good idea to turn everything off and read a book. When I wake up after trying that I realize how many times I've tried it before and it's at least a few days before I get the idea again...

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#22

Post by [deleted] »

ahknight wrote: post #16
dasmithii wrote: post #12

I'm not a fan of the perspective from which this article is written. Where the author writes "X is affected by ADHD", I'm inclined toward "X has a short attention span", or "X is hyperactive". The same perspective is taken by "victims" of ADHD, parents, and members of the media alike. I think we'd all be better off if we stopped speaking of these conditions as external forces acting upon the self, and instead, as mut…

What are you trying to say? Whatever it was, you kind of failed at it. Are you trying to toe the now-trite line that ADHD isn't a thing or something?

[deleted]

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#23

Post by dasmithii »

ahknight wrote: post #16
dasmithii wrote: post #12

I'm not a fan of the perspective from which this article is written. Where the author writes "X is affected by ADHD", I'm inclined toward "X has a short attention span", or "X is hyperactive". The same perspective is taken by "victims" of ADHD, parents, and members of the media alike. I think we'd all be better off if we stopped speaking of these conditions as external forces acting upon the self, and instead, as mut…

What are you trying to say? Whatever it was, you kind of failed at it. Are you trying to toe the now-trite line that ADHD isn't a thing or something?

I'm not saying it doesn't exist. I'm suggesting that it be considered a characteristic, and not an external force. This way, we don't grow dualistic, differentiating between oneself and one's brain.

I guess it's the dualism here that I'm criticizing, not ADHD itself. See the fourth paragraph:

"if you have the 'illness,' the real problem is that, to your brain, the world that you live in essentially feels not very interesting."

This distinction between "you" and "your brain" is what bothers me.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#24

Post by heurist »

So how do you do this in software? Consulting? Startup? I'm a couple years into my first software development job out of school and barely get through the moderate amount of work that's assigned to me right now. I'm afraid of switching to another development job where more would be expected of me (consulting! startups!). Without having these problems under control I may not be reliable despite my talent.

Over the last month or so I've been reading up on product management and it sounds like a good fit. Interact with people, track markets, discover problems, craft creative solutions, have other people figure out the exact implementation... Lately I've been trying to discover broad problems and their solutions in my current position, and it seems to be helping (helps me feel like I'm actually contributing, at least). I don't know any product managers to talk to about their day-to-day stuff though. Has anyone with ADHD found that to be a good career path?

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#25

Post by ahknight »

jamesisaac wrote: post #18

This is pretty much the same approach I took to largely overcome ADHD-like symptoms. I happen to believe that, if you've fallen into a routine, it's time to re-evaluate, anyway - so the tactic of engineering a more stimulating environment seems like a great idea regardless.

> overcome ADHD-like symptoms

First, good for you -- really!

Second, it's very important in discussions like this to qualify the target audience. A LOT of people have SOME of the symptoms, even to levels that impair their lives. NOT a lot of those people have full-blown ADHD.

If you have SOME symptoms and things like that help you, that's fantastic. In my direct and social experiences, however, those with clinical ADHD diagnoses are assisted with such suggestions, but very rarely do they improve things to the point that there is no longer a significant impairment to that person's life. THAT is when medication is a good fit: clinical diagnosis, life and environment changes haven't significantly helped, and there is still a negative impairment on one's life.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#26

Post by ahknight »

heurist wrote: post #24

So how do you do this in software? Consulting? Startup? I'm a couple years into my first software development job out of school and barely get through the moderate amount of work that's assigned to me right now. I'm afraid of switching to another development job where more would be expected of me (consulting! startups!). Without having these problems under control I may not be reliable despite my talent. Over the las…

I tried consulting. I couldn't self-motivate to self-imposed deadlines. Barely averted disaster. Never again.

Tried a startup. Same problem. Worse result.

Now I startup surf as a developer, but only to interesting projects. If I work on a boring project, I'm going to wind up behind schedule. One I learned that about myself, I adjusted my job searches to fit (as much as possible).

Project management? I suppose if I weren't the one actually doing it that would work. But if you switch early on, you're stuck with it. I'd get a few more years of software on your resume before bailing. That gives you experience with various kinds of scheduling and PMs and a better idea of the PM you'll want to be.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#27

Post by trippy_biscuits »

dasmithii wrote: post #12

I'm not a fan of the perspective from which this article is written. Where the author writes "X is affected by ADHD", I'm inclined toward "X has a short attention span", or "X is hyperactive". The same perspective is taken by "victims" of ADHD, parents, and members of the media alike. I think we'd all be better off if we stopped speaking of these conditions as external forces acting upon the self, and instead, as mut…

I don't have a short attention span and I'm not hyperactive. I spend a lot of time thinking about things. I deduce things noticeably faster than my peers as long as it's not socially related. I have intense focus as long as something remains stimulating. When things lose my interest or are pointless they become tedious and it's not about attention span. I cannot stop worrying about assigned tasks to the point of anxiety. There is a mental barrier and I cannot work on the task despite intentions and efforts to do so. Medications don't really help me. They do at first, then they become less effective. An interesting side note about meds: The first time on meds I finally could see social cues and body language. It was a whole new world. I still see them off the meds now that I know about them but I may have trouble understanding what they mean due to lack of experience in receiving those signals. Getting proper sleep, nutrition, and having regular, serious exercise help more than meds. The affliction is very real. Just because you can't see it or refuse to believe in it doesn't change the fact that it impacts the lives of others.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#28

Post by kurage »

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 12. Classic, "textbook" example of one. I felt like it was a curse until I was about 20. I was put on Focalin, Ritalin, Adderall, Vyvanse over those years.. they all made me calm and focused. Without my meds, I used to live in my head all day, theorizing how the universe and neurons work.. playing with ideas, twisting shapes in my mind. I was also prone to depression, anxiety, and I hated dealing with emotions.

Then one day, when I was about 23, I did LSD and cannabis together. My whole world came crashing down, and I realized that ADHD was a label that limited my true potential, and made me judgmental of "neurotypicals". After my trip, I realized that I lost about 75% of my visual-spatial ability (I felt out of it for a year or so as I missed having that ability), but I also felt more at peace, open-minded, and in the present moment. I also became a "doer", rather than a "thinker". I do not use any meds at all now; I meditate in the morning for at least 20 minutes, and try to run at least once a week.

With that said, I still like variety, and am a jack of all trades. Last time I did freelance, I loved doing marketing research, design, coding, programming and social media.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#29

Post by ahknight »

dasmithii wrote: post #23
ahknight wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you trying to say? Whatever it was, you kind of failed at it. Are you trying to toe the now-trite line that ADHD isn't a thing or something?

I'm not saying it doesn't exist. I'm suggesting that it be considered a characteristic, and not an external force. This way, we don't grow dualistic, differentiating between oneself and one's brain. I guess it's the dualism here that I'm criticizing, not ADHD itself. See the fourth paragraph: "if you have the 'illness,' the real problem is that, to your brain, the world that you live in essentially feels not very int…

As someone with clinically-diagnosed "severe ADHD" I use that language all the time. I want to do something. My mind won't let me.

It really is like a devil on my shoulder sometimes.

"I want to read a book."

"No."

"Really! It's good! We've done this be-"

"No. Look, shiny!"

"Neat! Now, the book..."

"No. We're going to watch a show now."

Sigh.

Re: A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.?

#30

Post by myrandomcomment »

I take my 54mg of Concerta (time released Ritalin - methylphenidate - ie, pure government speed) every morning.

6th startup now? They hit about 100 people and I move on. Wonder why?

Job wise in the startup I am the "fixer". The get it done guy. I wonder why?

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